NOTE TO READERS

How I Have Tried to Make This Book Accessible

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS BOOK. AND THANK you for stopping in this section so I can clarify some things that are important to me.

First, while I hope my writing is smart, my goal is to welcome readers of diverse backgrounds, including readers who do not necessarily have an interest in academic writing. The worst offender in this regard is the prologue chapter, and I invite readers to skip it if it inhibits their enjoyment of the book’s content. While that chapter is necessary to establish some theoretical foundations and cite some important writers, the remaining chapters are consistently more accessible. In general, I followed a few guiding principles when writing this book:

•I include only the citations that I feel are necessary.

•My word choice should be appropriate for any reader with an interest in video games.

•I often write in the first person, often with personal anecdotes. I want this book to be a cozy reading experience that welcomes readers of many educational and cultural backgrounds.

Second, this book uses language about the disabled community, and that language is still often contested. Different groups use different words to describe their identities. For example, I use the words “deaf and hard of hearing” when referring to people with hearing disabilities. Similarly, I use the terms “mental illness” and “psychosocial disability” when referring to mental health challenges. There are many other examples throughout this project. These labels are not universally accepted, and individuals will often prefer one word or phrase over another when describing their identities. For this reason, I urge readers to avoid assuming the language I chose is “correct.” I tried to make informed decisions, and I leave readers to do the same.

Third, I have added content warnings before chapters that discuss self-harm or suicide.

Fourth, I have attempted to make this book completely comprehensible when read by text or screen readers. I avoid relying on visual cues in the interview sections by adding the word “question” before my questions and the interview subject’s name before their answers. And detailed descriptions accompany all images.

Fifth, all readers are welcome to contact me. I want this project to start conversations, not end them. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or if you want to discuss video games, disability, accessibility, or mental health. Maybe you have played some games that I did not mention that you think would be good examples for me to use in the future: please send your recommendations my way. You may find updated contact information on my website: SkyLaRell.net. I honestly look forward to hearing from you.